Instantaneous water-heater.



R, C. PRAMPTON.

INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATER.

APLIOATION FILED OCT. 12, 1908.

Patented Mar. .23, 1915*l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. G. PRAMPTON. INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 12, 1908.

Patented Ma1-23, 1915.

nsrrno sourires retenir' ortieona BEYNGLDS' CLQRMPTQN, GF PTTSBUBGH, IPENNSYLV-ANI, SSZGNOR'TO PITTSBURG 'WATER HEATER COMPANY, QF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CGBPOBATIQN 0F nnwysnesssef i/issnie.

NTANTANEGUS WATER-HEATER.

Application filed ctoeer i2, i908. Serial No. 57,383,

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, Rnrxonns C. FiniturroN, a citizen or" the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the countyT of Allegheny und State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful linproveinents in lnstantuneous 4ll/'uter-Heaters, ot which the following is n specilication.

The invention relates to instantaneous ivater heaters, and has for its principal objects;

tlie provision of an apparatus of this cli-.inA

acter employing a circulatoif outside tlicrn niostat wherein improved controlling or checking ineens are provided for permitting free and unimpetled circulation through the thermostat and its connections when the outlet from the heater is closedand which will be positively actuated to prevent any direct lion' of cold unter to the outlet from the inlet when the outlet is closed; the provision of cliecliiner nienns ot the character specified which will operate oren when only a limited flow occurs troni the outlet; and the provision ot' on apparatus of the character speciiied wherein s return circulation to the heater is provided for. One einbodinient of tlie invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. uliereinz- Figure l is n front view of the heater.

Figure 2 is a side clevation'tliereof,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view, partially in section of the controlling mechanism,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail partly in section of the improvedcontrolling valve, the section being talenon the line IV-IV of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a sectional vieu' similar to that of Figure 4, but with the piston valve in its upper position, and

Figure 6 is a sectional View similar to that of Figure 4, showing a modified torni of cheer( valve. f

Referring first to the'generiil arrnirgenientYV the gas inlet pipe provided with the usual manually operated valve 11,'12 is the gas, valve casing, the valves of which are automatically controlled from the' thermostat. and Water valve in a manner t'o be hereinafter described, 13 is the gas pipe leading from tliehvzilve l2 to the burners, 14 is water supply pipe leading to theautoinatic Water Valve casing l5, lf3 is s Water pipe leading from the valve casing l5 to the casing 17 of the controlling olie-ck valve to be hereinafter more particularly described, 18 is a pipe lending from the casing 17 to the upper coil of the set 2, 19 is a tube leading from the upper portion of the casing l? to the 'upper portion of the thermostat casing '7, and 20 is 1 pressure regulating valve whose construction muy be of any approved type and is ateiited Mar. 2%, s;

immaterial in so for as the invention of this by the rod Q9 of the water vulve. The rod-185 QS) is carried by the pisto'ii 30 of the Water valve, which piston is normally held in the position shown in Figure 3 by means of the spring 31. When no water is being drawn from thelienterlnd the temperature of the water in tlfe thermostat casing 7 "is below a maximum, the valve disks 25 :mdQfS occupy the positions illustrated in Figurel lf the outlet to the tube 16 is opened, the pressure upon theleft hand end of the piston 31 of the water valve moves such piston to the right and its stem or rod 29 actuates the rod to open the disk 26 against the pressure of parts as shovvn in Figures l, 2 and 3, 1 is/,of the spring 3Q. lllien the Water in the the casing ot' the heater. o and 4 are the upper sets of coils of the boiler. 5 is the lower inverted set ol coils, the lower coil of which set is connected to the lovver coil of the set 4. b v moans of tbc pipe 6, T is the thermostat casing, which casing communicates with the upper coil of the set 5 by means ot the pipe 8, and is provided with an outlet 9 for the hot water which is to be distributed, 10 is tin g oil' the supply of gas t0 the; burners even though the disk `fsliouldV remain open.

The construction of the controlling` clieel; i

valve is illustrated most clearly in Figures 4 and 5. By reference to these gures\1t will be seen that the casing 17 is provided vvith an inlet passage il and a pair of circulation passages l5 and 36, leading respectivelv to the connection 18 to the upper coil of tlic boiler. and to the connection 19 leading to the thermostat casing,T 7. Screw threaded into the end of the easing 1'( is 'a oar-shine- 3T. and slid-able in this bushing is iiston valu', having the two heads 38 and il 'ihr bushing is: also provided with two so s of ,ports 40 and 41 leading respectively tothe passages 35 and 36, The piston valve is held noi nally in th position shown in Figure 4 with its hea-d covaring,r the l'ecd v port lll-.by means of the sri-ingr ,lhe

valve parts occupy the positions shown in Figure 4 when no water is being drawn through the outlet pipe 9. With the parts in this position, water from the inverted or reverse coil 5 may circulate freely to the upper coil .2 through the connection S, the casing 7, the connection 1t) and the ports and the passages of the valvc easing;A 17 to the connection 1S.. ln other words, a free and unobstructed -irculatory .passage'is p -nidcd from the louer coil to the upper coil by the thermostat casing; and an ellcctire 'firemation of rater may occur even when the outlet 9 closed. thus ini-:urina` a control ol' the thermostat and the ,gras v water in thc boiler. i

the pipe 4&3, and a continuous tlouhe c lation niai.r nniin'tainr-ih a part of the water from the thermostat casing passing up through the outlet L l and around through the `system and bach through the return pipe '-l" while another portion passes through theconnertionllltoihe casing land their.v 40 back to the upper coil of the boiler. lfthc outlet through the pipe 9 is opened, the piston valve will assume the position shown in Figure o by reason or' the unbalanced pressure on the opposite sides of such valve, and

the up-llow through the inlet pipe lll. When thc parts are in this position the water from the pipe lo will pass through the valve easing 17 and out through the passage and connection 1S to the upper coil of the boiler,

5o andthencc through the coils of the boiler, tho thermostat casing T and the outlet, pipe 9. It will be noted that when the parts are in theposition of Figure 5, there is no posesibility. of a. llow ol cold water fro/m the casing 17 to the thermostat casini,T T, as the valve heads 38 and 3f) close oli' the upper portion of the bushing' from the lower portion and prevent anyy ilow through the passage and connection i9 to the. thermostat casingr T. .ln this manner any cold water is prevented from :nini-ling with the hot vv-atcr ilowing out throug'li the outlet l). The' use oi thctwo valve disks 38 and 3l) is advan-v tageous, in that the head 39 closes communication to thev upper portion of the bushing and the port 41 before there is any opportunity of a flow to the upper. side 0f the head BS; and the fe'ndency to displace the valve after it is once seated in the position of Figure is reduced, aS.the area of the upper head 39 which is exposed to pressure from above, is much less than the area of the head 38 which is exposed to pressure fx om lizelow. When the outlet from the pipe 9 is closed, the pressure on the lower side of the head 38 is of course reduced` and the spring 4'). serves to return the valve to the-position of Figure 4, in which position a clear passage is allorded between the upper end of the thermostat casing,r and the upper end of the boiler. The piston controlling or check valve asluirctofore described is superior to the ordinary check valve which might be employed, not only because of the unobstructed passage afforded for circulation nhen the outlet from the thermostat is closed, but because of the more positive action due to the .fact that the valve is in the line of flow through theinlet and must be moved up to a position closing olf the conncction to the thermostat before any liow to. the boiler can occur. Any uncertainty in the operation of the valve is 'thus avoided, and when once moved to upper closed position it is .securely maintained in such position even under light or varied supply pressure until the outlet from thethermostat is closed.

lt will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular form of boiler illustrated having the reverse lower coil although this is the preferred arrangement as the upward circulation through the thermostat casing is insured. When the ordinary type of instantaneous water heater boiler without the reverse coil is employed, the circulation might at times be in the ree verse direction, i. c.- upward through the coils and downward through the thermostat casing and under these conditions an unim-` pedi-,d circulation through the valve casing l? still permitted when the outlet from the thermostat casing is closed as circulation may occur through the casing lT'as readily in one direction as in the reverse. The use of the controlling check is therefore not limited in its application, 'and the invention comprehends broadly the' use with the boiler and circulating thermostat of the piston valve normally leaving a passage for circu- .is necessary'is that the end of thevalveobi oaevieni the Spr-.nig fil-4 eiimznai action and er lower Yaife to it 2 pfeS- sore and i a Sorb Siderahie voire ignre (i is heid e h very smaii degre, of orfe cirenietion through the f 3 7 to the heater iS'not Qhtiy rechace le ie dosed, Styie of voire not so weii aoiapteri to A, reins enr ployingf a return oircuiation pipe as the vaive of Figure i? for the reason that Sno Stantiaiiyaii oi the cironiotion Wilt he fii- 'rertefi through the return simulation pipe instead oit passing to the upper coil through the oonneotion Vth the vaive of :M

s, the return 'of a part of the Water to ze upper coil through. the passage i8 is nsureonnder Conditions as there is no to the of the Water h the Casing 171 v Ha ing thus described mv invention and illustrated its use, what I daim as new and fiesire to secure hy Letters atont is the foilowingl. The Combination With. a thermostat. oi a *vertical coil tube boiler having iniet to the upper portion and an outiet from the lower portion passing' to the thermostat, a service ontiet from the thermostat, a communication from the thermostat to the upper portion of e hoiier, and autr matic controlling ineens for the communication and boiler iniet arrangeo; permit eoinmnnication between the thermoetet ano boiler in' im n iiretions when the ontiet from the thermostat. is eiose and. to oose the oommunioation from the boiier inist to the thermostat, Whemithoroutlet from theZ thermostat ie opened. y

il The Comoiietion with a thermostat, of r1 Vertical coi? tube boiler having upper and iower sections and' en inlet to the upper seotionT a connection from the iower enti of the upper section to the ionfer end of the lower section, an outlet from the upper end of the lower Section r Sing to the thermostat9 o seen' e outiec from the thermostat, oomtion trom i he therA .Lestat the upper V ort n' er, and automatic controicommunication and 'ooiler ti'ierniostat When the outletf ci ancito parmi., er inlet and close the ooromunioation Lirom aid boiler inlet to the thermostat when the outlet from the thermostat is open: i

3. The oomoination wir-n coiituhe ooiier i l. j on peipoition and outlet` portion missing oatiet i t a 'valve Casing in the sai@ inte, a oormnnnieation from the casiirT to thermostat, and piston valve arranged to y itiiirejiy oi struct the fion' to the boiler from the sairi iniet and permit oommunieetion hereen the thermostat and hoiier when the ontiet from the thermostat is eiosec'i, an@r to he moved by the iniiow to open the said iniet and eiose the eonnnunieation therefrom the thermostat when the outlet from the thermostat is opened.

The, Combination with a thermostat, of a coii tube hoiier having an iniet tothe up- 1 a. [i nmroiign e thermostat, of niiet to the np- ;'rrom the lower per vpoftion, and. an outiet from the lower portion passing to the thermostat, a service outiet from thethernlostat, a communication from the thermostat to the ripper portion of boiler, and automatic eonrroiinf; means for the communication and said inietarranged to yieic'ingiy obstruct the inlet ano` permit communication between the thermostat and boiler in both directions when the kwater-to the apparatus, oiy a' valve. casing having communicating Connections with the ,/spply pipe, the thermostatvcasing and the boiler provided with a valve yieldingly held with its end in position to obstruct the supply connection with the other connections in communication and arranged so as to be moved by the inlionv to a position closing' the connection with .the thermostat casing and placing the supply pipe and connection to the boiler in free communication when the outlet from theithermostat casing is opened.

6. In heating apparatus, the combination with a coil tube boiler provided with gas heating means, of a thermostat casing provided with a thermostat for controlling the supply ot gas to the heating means and having a connection to the boiler and a hot water service outlet leading from the apparatus, a valve casing having a feed port and 'two other ports having connections leading respectively to the thermostat tasing ai-l heater, and a piston valve yield` ingly iaeld with its end over the feed port with the other two ports uncovered and communicating, and adapted when the outlet' from the thermostat casing is opened and the pressure on the opposite ends of the valve unbalanced to move so as to close the port connected to the thermostat casing and place the feed port and the port connected to the boiler in free communication.

7. In heating apparatus, the combination with a coil tube boiler provided with gas heating means, ot' a thermostat casing provided with a thermostat for controlling the supply of gas to the heating means and having a connection to the boiler and a hot water service outlet leading from the apparatus, a valve casi'ng having a feed portand two other ports having connections leading respectively to the 'thermostat casing and heater, and a piston valve with its end yieldingly held over the feed port with the other two ports uncovered and communi eating, and adapted when the outlet Alii'oin the thermostat casing is opened and the pressure on the opposite ends of the valve unbalanced to move so as to first close the port connected to the thermostat and after such closure place the feed port and the port connected to the boiler in free coinmunication.

' S. In heating apparatus, the combination with a vertical coil tube boiler provided with gasheating means ot` a substantially vertical thermostat casing provided with a thermostat for controlling the supply of gas to' the heating means, and having a connection from its lower Aportion to the lower portion of the boiler and .a hot water service outlet from its upper portion leading from the apparatus, a valve casing having a feed port and two other ports having connections leading respectively to the thermostat casing and the upper portion vof the boiler,

and a piston valve in alinement with the feed port and arranged to normally obstruct such port, the ports and valve being so als ranged that when the outlet from the ther mostat is closed the end of the valve is over the Aleed port and the other ports are uncovered and communicating, and when such outlet is opened the valve is moved to close the port connected to the thermostat casing and permit a flow between the other two ports in communication.

9. In heating apparatus, the'combination with a vertical coil tube boiler having a re verse coil at its lower end and provided with gas heating means, a thermostat casing connected to the upper end of the reverse coil and having a hot water service outlet leading from the apparatus, a thermostat in the casing arranged to control the flow of gas to the heating means, and a pipe Iforsupplying water to the apparatus leading to the upper portion oi the boiler, oi' a valve casing having communicating connections with the supply pipe, the thermostat casing and the boiler, and provided witha valve normally seating itself so as to cover the supply opening and leave the other connections in communication, and adapted to be moved to position closing the connection with the thermostat casing and placing the supply pipe and connection to the boiler in free communication when the outlet from the thermostat is opened.

l0. In heating apparatus, thel combination with a vertical coil tube boiler having a reverse coil at its lower end and provided with gas heating means.r a thermostatcasin thecasing arranged to controlthe flow of gas to the heating means, and a pipe tor supplying water to the apparatus leading to the upper portion of the boiler, of a valve casing having communicating connections with the supply pipe, the thermostat casing and the boiler and provided with a valve adapted to cut ofi' the connection between the valve casing and thermostat casing when the outlet from the thermostat casing is opened, and at other times permit a circula.- tion between the boiler and thermostat casing through the valve casing.

1l. In heating apparatus, the combination with a coil tube boiler having a reverse coil at its lower end and provided with gas heating means, a thermostat casing connected to the upper end of the reverse coil and having a hot-water service outlet leading from the apparatus, a thermostat in the casing arranged to control theflow ol gasto the heating means, and a pipe for supplying water valve adapted'to cut off the connection be-4 tween the valve casing and thermostat cas- -ing when the outlet from the thermostat casing is opened, and at other times permit a circulationy between the boiler and .the .thermostat casing through the valve casing.

l2. In heating apparatus, the combination with a. vertical coil tube boiler having a reverse coil at its lower end and provided with gas heating means, a `thermostat casing connected to the upper end of the reverse coil and having a hot-water service outlet leading from the apparatus, a thermostat in the casing arranged to control the flow of gas to the heating means, and pipe for supplying Water to the apparatus provided with an automatic water valve for controlling the flow of gas to the heating means, of aV valve casingv having communicatingconnections with the supply pipe, the thermostat casing and the boiler, and provided with a spring held valve adapted to cut oli' the connection between the valve casing and thermostat casing when the outlet from the thermostat casing is opened, and at other times permit a circulation from the .thermostat casing to the valve casing and thence to the hoilen 13. In heating apparat'ns, the combination with a thermostat, of a coil tube boiler having-an inlet to the upper portion and an outlet from the lower portion passing to the thermostat, a. valve casing in the inlet, a communication from the casing to the thermostat, a piston valve inA the line of flow through the valve casing to the boiler arranged' to 'yieldingb obstruct theiow to the boiler from the inlet and permit communication between the thermostat and boiler when the outlet is closed, and when such outlet is opened to be moved by the pressure against the end to open so as to permit a free Elow 'from the inlet and by such movemeut close the communication to the thermostat.

14. In heating apparatus, the combination with a thermostat, of a coil tube boiler having an inlet to the upper portion-and an outlet from the lower portion passing to the thermostat,a hot-water 'service outlet leading from the thermostat, a communication from the thermostat to the upper portion of the boiler, and automatic controlling means for the communication and inlet arranged to yieldingly obstruct the inlet and permit communication between the thermostat and the boiler when the service outlet romthe thermostat is closed and to close the communication from the inlet to the thermostat when the service outlet from the thermostat is opened. Y

l5. In heating apparatus, the combinatio with a coil tube boiler provided with gas heating means, a thermostat casing connected to the lower portion of the boiler and having a hot water service outlet leading from the apparatus, a thermostat in the casing arranged to Acontrol the flow of gas to ihe heatingr means and a pipe for supplying Water to the apparatus leading to the upper portion of the boiler, of a valve casing having communicating connections 'with the supply pipe, the thermostat casing andthe boiler, and provided with a valve adapted to cut ol the connection between the valve casing and thermostat casing when the outlet from the thermostat casing is opened, and at other times permit a circulation between the thermostat casing and boiler through the valve casing. i

In 4testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses. -REYNOLDS C. FRAMPTON. Witnesses:

i JAMES C. BRADLEY,

Donnino BELLINGER. 

